Karnataka: Bundles of Fake Notes Worth ₹14 Crore Seized from Vacant House

Karwar: In a curious case that has raised eyebrows, police in Dandeli town of Uttara Kannada district have seized a large cache of suspicious currency notes with a face value of approximately ₹14 crore, along with a currency counting machine, from a rented house in the Gandhinagar locality.

The incident came to light after local residents, concerned by the prolonged absence of the tenant—a man reportedly from Goa—noticed the back door of the house was left open. Alerted by the unsecured premises, they informed the police.

Upon inspection, police discovered bundles of ₹500 denomination notes that bore striking similarities to real currency, but with several glaring discrepancies. The notes were printed on shiny paper and carried the misspelled label “Reverse Bank of India” instead of “Reserve Bank of India.” They also lacked the customary signature of the RBI Governor, had serial numbers made entirely of zeros, and were marked with disclaimers such as “For Movie Shooting Purpose Only” and “Specimen.”

Police sources said the items have been taken into custody and that a probe is underway to determine the purpose and origin of the notes. While the notes clearly state that they are not legal tender, officials are investigating whether they were intended for misuse.

The identity and whereabouts of the tenant remain unknown, and further investigation is ongoing.